PGA task force eyes "non-traditional" growth

PGA President, Ted Bishop, during the State of the Industry Panel discussion at the 2014 PGA Merchandise Show at the Orange County Convention Center.
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Tracy Wilcox
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By Bill Zimmerman

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

In the spirit of the recent Hackgolf initiative, the PGA of America has formed a task force charged with growing the game beyond traditional means.

"The golf experience needs to be redefined," PGA of America president Ted Bishop said in a release.

To that end, the 10-member panel is comprised of a mix of figures inside golf and out. Golf figures include Bishop, PGA of America CEO Pete Bevacqua and PGA of America board member and former LPGA pro Dottie Pepper – as well as TaylorMade-adidas Golf CEO and Hackgolf founder Mark King, Top Golf co-owner Tom Dundon and media members Damon Hack and Ashley Mayo.

The three members from outside golf are skiing standout Bode Miller, former NFL player Melvin Bullitt and former USTA CEO Arlen Kantarian, none of whose bios from the PGA contain information about backgrounds in golf.

The PGA's release says the group will look for ideas that can quickly be put in place, while also looking at the sport's long-term picture.

"With the industry at a critical juncture of growth, it is our responsibility to consider any and all potential alternatives to enhance the consumer’s enjoyment of the game," Bishop said.

Playing at PGA West, four-person teams from several major golf companies battled for the Industry Cup title. The TaylorMade team of Ryan Carr, Eric Recher, Patrick Baxter and Brian Bazzel came out on top.

George Bahto, by day the operator of a successful dry cleaning store, became by night a self-educated expert on the golf course architecture of Charles Blair Macdonald and Seth Raynor. Bahto died recently at age 83.

Bahto, dry cleaner turned course restorer, dies at 83

George Bahto died at age 83 after going from dry cleaning to golf course restoration. “Bahto did more after he was 65 than most people do in getting to 65,” one golf-industry figure said.
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Harold Ramis reached the hearts and funny bones of golfers everywhere with his 1980 directorial debut, "Caddyshack," which he also co-wrote. Here are nine ways that entertainment website IMDB.com says Ramis, who died Monday, worked his comedic magic.